Holy crap, where to start? This was the largest turnout in the history of SummerTech with over 65 kids. This was the last week for the first round of the Machinima course, round two starts Week D. I must say that our Machinima students really did us proud this week, all of those who were celebrating their last week went home with a finished film on DVD, and those who are staying for round 2 are close enough to finished to go ahead and start on their second film for the summer. The two girls once again totally dominated again this year, not only being the first to finish their main features, but they never once stopped working, producing several most excellent shorts (My favorite is the one about the killer bearded cheerleaders.) One student really stuck out to me as the class hero, he knows who he is. Picking up the slack on the last minute to finish a three man job all on his own, and never once slowing down to complain, never loosing the joy of making Machinima. *tear* They grow up so fast! *tear*

Our good pal Ben Grussi once again stopped by this year to hang out and bring tidings of well-wishes to the little Machinimators of SummerTech. Ben's been a bit down lately, so if you see him, be sure to give him a warm hello and a pat on the back, he deserves at least that much for all he's done for the Machinima community. Without Ben, I doubt many of us would be as far as we are, he's simply done so much behind the scenes that it may be impossible to gauge just how much he's influenced the world of Machinima. Thanks again Ben!

On the other great summer front, I finally got up the nerve to chat with Baa-san (grandmother), one of the teachers that brings in the students from Tokyo, Japan. I was afraid she might be a bit upset with me after what transpired at the end of last year, but she was as friendly and wonderful to chat with as always. Although I think her students may not see her that way, it may be a teacher to teacher professional appreciation kinda thing. Last year she was giving me the evil eye until I talked with her at length about my day job; teaching 6 year olds how to type. (As a teacher, I'd be a bit upset if some punk kid starting hitting on one of my students too!)

Other than that, it rained a bunch, there was a tornado at one point (yeah, I know, followed us from Texas I bet,) a bunch of us starting getting sick, and I slept in today as Mike, Tommy, and Ali went off to NYC to do the tourist thing. I really wanted to go, but my weakened state from the stressful week demanded I sleep till noon and then nap some more after lunch.